Alliance with BJP is like father's 'will': Mehbooba Mufti

SRINAGAR: Top leaders of both BJP and Peoples Democratic Party expressed hope that a BJP-PDP alliance government will soon take office in J&K, which was put under governor’s rule in early January due to delay in formation of a new government after the death of chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

Sat Sharma, BJP’s state unit president, said the political situation in the state favours continuation of the alliance government while PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, daughter of Sayeed, reiterated that she would not prove her father’s decision wrong though assurances on implementation of the Agenda of Alliance (AoA) were equally important.

“Political environment is brewing in favour of BJP-PDP government and government would be formed soon,” Sharma told ET, adding that BJP, as of now, was not deliberating on the option of snap polls. “We are preparing for upcoming urban local bodies and panchayat elections and not for any fresh assembly polls,” he said.

Mufti, in a public addresses in north Kashmir on Monday, demanded that the Narendra Modi government should take some confidence building measures (CBMs), besides AoA, to give a fillip to government formation.

“My father’s decision is article of faith—pather ki lakeer for me. I don’t want to do anything that would prove my father’s decision wrong,” she said.

Mufti said she was not ‘stubborn’ and was even ready to face criticism if continuation of the alliance is in favour of people of J&K.

PDP had termed the AoA as a ‘sacred’ document.

The agenda measures, according to PDP leaders, include return of at least two power projects, time-bound vacation of land under Army control at various places across state, and concrete assurances on reconciliation with Pakistan.

BJP’s Sharma said, “We are committed to AoA, which can be implemented quickly if we form the government."